Geotourism explained

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Gulf War Bubble

bursts

Tourism growth goes on. . .

SARS& IraqWar

Center for Sustainable Destinations Center for Sustainable Destinations


Sightseeing

Local cuisin

e

Cultural tourism

From eco- to geo-

ECOTOURISM:nature

Heritage tourism

Indigenous

tourism

Agri-tourism

tourism pays to protect … not destroy


27M

40 %70%


SEGMENT SIZE

Apathetics6%

Outdoor Sportsmen3%

Self-Indulgents14%

Wishful Thinkers

Good Citizens17%

Urban Sophisticates

Geo-Savvys21%

Traditionals6%

Percent of the 13.6 million U.S. adults who traveled internationally 3+ times in the past 3 years


DESTINATION TOURISM STYLES DIFFER IN RELATION TO PLACE

Touring R & R Entertainment


DESTINATION STYLE DRIFT . . .

if development unchecked, unguided

Touring R & R Entertain-ment

Unspoiled

destination

SPOILED ?


Geotourism Principle 1Integrity of place Sustain and enhance geographical character


Geotourism Principle 2International CodesAdhere to global code of ethics


Geotourism Principle 3

Market SelectivityEncourage stewardship in tourism growth



Market DiversityFull range of food and lodging


Geotourism Principle 5Tourism Satisfaction Personal experience creates a migrating story


• Tourist SatisfactionPersonal experience creates a migrating story




Community involvementBase tourism on community assets



• Community involvement Base tourism on community assets


Geotourism Principle 7Community benefitEncourage small business strategies and upward employment mobility



Encourage stewardship in tourism growth



Promote destination appeal Promote destination appeal Protect natural habitats, heritage sites, Protect natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetics, culture; avoid overcrowdingaesthetics, culture; avoid overcrowding


Geotourism Principle 8• Sustain heritage sites and local culture


Geotourism Principle 8 Sustain heritage sites and local culture


Geotourism Principle 9Land use: Land use: Avoid sprawling, excessive development; contain high-Avoid sprawling, excessive development; contain high-density in clusters; provide affordable housingdensity in clusters; provide affordable housing


Geotourism Principle 10Conservation of resourcesConservation of resourcesPromote environmental management plans for Promote environmental management plans for energy, pollution, lighting, etc.energy, pollution, lighting, etc.



• Conservation of resources

Promote environmental management plans

for energy, pollution, lighting, etc.



Planning Planning Balance short-term economic needs against Balance short-term economic needs against long-term enhancement of geographical characterlong-term enhancement of geographical character


Geotourism Principle 12Interactive interpretation:Interactive interpretation: Engage both visitors Engage both visitors and hosts in learning about the placeand hosts in learning about the place



• Interactive interpretation Engage both visitors & hosts in local learning


THE THE PLACE PLACE

Tourism interests(differentiation)

Residents(pride and

benefits)

Tourists(enthusiasm)

Politicians(the usual)


Leakage; irresponsible Leakage; irresponsible business practicesbusiness practices

The Circle Broken

Place-based tourism Community

benefit

Motive to protect

Obstacles Obstacles to to protectionprotection

Benefits Benefits too too selective, selective, or not or not apparentapparent


Geotourism Virtuous Circle

Place-based tourism Community

benefit

Motive to protect


How

Challenges

1. Overuse = abuse2. Negative perception3. Economic challenges


With geotourism1. Spread visitors out2. Positive curiosity

3. 90 of 100 business increased $$$

Get on the Map!


Challenges

2. Regional competing3. Struggling economy

1. “looking out”


With geotourism

1. ‘Look in’ to Value

2. Co-op marketing

3. Expanded Profit

Hardwick. VT


Embassy Suites, South Lake TahoeIncrease Appeal, Save Money, Benefit community and watershed

•$200,000 investment •ROI = 7 months•$350,000 operational savings year 1•LED’s, ozone laundry, energy monitoring > energy 30% fuel 50%•Compost + recycle > $5,200 month•Increase shoulder season occupancy•$100K piece of business from ‘compostable straw’


Honduras

First country to make geotourism its national tourism strategy.

Geotourism Charter signed 22 Oct 2004


Norway

Geotourism Charter Geotourism Charter signed 31 Aug 2005signed 31 Aug 2005


RomaniaGeotourism Charter signed 27 Sept. 2005


World Wilderness Congress

Geotourism Charter endorsed Oct. 2005


Geotourism Charter signed August 2006

Cook Islands

Center for Sustainable Destinations Center for Sustainable Destinations

A project in practice: Sonoran Desert region

http://www.gotosonora.com/

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/index.jsp

http://www.arizonaguide.com/home.asp


Arizona, U.S.A. and Sonora, Mexico

Geotourism Charter signed Dec. 2005


Waterton-Glacier Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, International Peace Park, Canada-USACanada-USAWorld Heritage destinationWorld Heritage destinationTrans-border Trans-border Geotourism Stewardship CouncilGeotourism Stewardship Counciland MapGuide projectand MapGuide project


Norway’s Queen Sonja at final signing of the Norwegian Geotourism Charter at NGS


Tourism offices pick up the theme


A Geotourism Strategy

• Identify• Sustain • Develop • Market


IdentifyIdentify Geotourism AssetsGeotourism Assets


DevelopDevelop GeotourismGeotourism

on character & community


PromoteThe geotourism storyThe geotourism story

Enhance sense of placeEnhance sense of place•Stewardship •Stewardship • private enterprise • private enterprise • conservation / preservation• conservation / preservation• civic participation• civic participation


SustainSustain

Protect the tourism product Protect the tourism product The placeThe place!!

Geotourism explained

Education

Transcript of Geotourism explained